Information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an information processing terminal capable of being connected to a network. The terminal comprises a receiving unit for receiving information of first electronic materials transmitted from an electronic materials providing side, an advertisement information preparing unit for preparing information of second electronic materials, with which advertisement information is associated, based on the information of the first electronic materials received by the information receiving unit, and a transmitting unit for transmitting, to the electronic materials providing side, the information of the second electronic materials, with which the advertisement information prepared by the advertisement information preparing unit is associated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an information processingapparatus which is suitable for providing an efficient and effectiveadvertising method when advertisements are given to the public throughthe Internet, and which is also suitable for creating common electronicmaterials inexpensively.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Hitherto, when an event, such as a trip or tour, takes place, analbum has often been created using photos taken in the event.Particularly, when a group of plural friends or acquaintances make anevent, such as a trip or tour, they want a photo album as a memory ofthe event. In such a case, one album has sometimes been created usingphotos taken by different participants.

[0005] However, in the case of creating an album using photos taken bydifferent participants, when a group of plural friends or acquaintancesmake an event, such as a trip or tour, the following problem occurs.After the event, those participants must arrange their schedules to meetat a certain place and bring there the photos taken by them. This hasbeen very troublesome.

[0006] Also, another problem occurs when the participants are living inremote districts and gather only for the purpose of an event. Becausethey are remote from one another, it has been very difficult to createthe above-mentioned album.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providean information processing apparatus which is suitable for realizing anefficient and effective advertising method when advertisements are givento the public through the Internet, and which is also suitable forcreating common electronic materials inexpensively.

[0008] An information processing apparatus of the present inventionaccording to a first aspect is constructed as follows.

[0009] In an information processing apparatus capable of being connectedto a network, the apparatus comprises a storage unit for receivinginformation of first electronic materials input from a terminal on anelectronic-materials creating user side, and storing the receivedinformation of the first electronic materials; an informationtransmitting unit for transmitting the information of the firstelectronic materials stored in the storage unit to a terminal on anadvertisement providing side; an information receiving unit for, aftertransmitting the information of the first electronic materials from theinformation transmitting unit, receiving information of secondelectronic materials, which is transmitted from the advertisementproviding side and with which advertisement information is associatedbased on the information of the first electronic materials; and anadvertisement materials publicizing unit for, in response to a requestfrom an electronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting theinformation of the second electronic materials received by theinformation receiving unit to the electronic-materials service receivingside.

[0010] An information processing apparatus of the present inventionaccording to a second aspect is constructed as follows.

[0011] In an information processing terminal capable of being connectedto a network, the terminal comprising a receiving unit for receivinginformation of first electronic materials transmitted from an electronicmaterials providing side; an advertisement information preparing unitfor preparing information of second electronic materials, with whichadvertisement information is associated, based on the information of thefirst electronic materials received by the information receiving unit;and a transmitting unit for transmitting, to the electronic materialsproviding side, the information of the second electronic materials, withwhich the advertisement information prepared by the advertisementinformation preparing unit is associated.

[0012] An information processing method of the present inventionaccording to a first aspect is constructed as follows.

[0013] In an information processing method for providing, via a network,electronic materials in which an advertisement is inserted, the methodcomprises the steps of receiving information of first electronicmaterials input from a terminal on an electronic-materials creating userside; storing the received information of the first electronicmaterials; transmitting the stored information of the first electronicmaterials to a terminal on an advertisement providing side; aftertransmitting the information of the first electronic materials,receiving information of second electronic materials, which istransmitted from the advertisement providing side and with whichadvertisement information is associated based on the information of thefirst electronic materials; and in response to a request from anelectronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting the receivedinformation of the second electronic materials to theelectronic-materials service receiving side.

[0014] An information processing method of the present inventionaccording to a second aspect is constructed as follows.

[0015] In an information processing method for providing, via a network,electronic materials in which an advertisement is inserted, the methodcomprises the steps of receiving information of first electronicmaterials transmitted from an electronic materials providing side;preparing information of second electronic materials, with whichadvertisement information is associated, based on the receivedinformation of the first electronic materials; and transmitting, to theelectronic materials providing side, the information of the secondelectronic materials, with which the prepared advertisement informationis associated.

[0016] An information processing system of the present invention isconstructed as follows.

[0017] An information processing system connecting, via a network, afirst terminal on an electronic-materials creating user side and asecond terminal on an advertisement providing side for inserting anadvertisement in electronic materials, the system comprises a storageunit for receiving information of first electronic materials input fromthe first terminal on the electronic-materials creating user side, andstoring the received information of the first electronic materials; aninformation transmitting unit for transmitting the information of thefirst electronic materials stored in the storage unit to the secondterminal on the advertisement providing side; an information receivingunit for, after transmitting the information of the first electronicmaterials from the information transmitting unit, receiving informationof second electronic materials, which is transmitted from the secondterminal on the advertisement providing side and with whichadvertisement information is associated based on the information of thefirst electronic materials; and an advertisement materials publicizingunit for, in response to a request from a third terminal on anelectronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting theinformation of the second electronic materials received by theinformation receiving unit to the electronic-materials service receivingside.

[0018] A program of the present invention according to a first aspect isconstructed as follows.

[0019] The program operates on an information processing apparatus,capable of being connected to a network, to execute the steps ofreceiving information of first electronic materials input from aterminal on an electronic-materials creating user side, and storing thereceived information of the first electronic materials; an informationtransmitting step for transmitting the information of the firstelectronic materials stored in the storing step to a terminal on anadvertisement providing side; an information receiving step for, aftertransmitting the information of the first electronic materials in theinformation transmitting step, receiving information of secondelectronic materials, which is transmitted from the advertisementproviding side and with which advertisement information is associatedbased on the information of the first electronic materials; and anadvertisement materials publicizing step for, in response to a requestfrom an electronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting theinformation of the second electronic materials received in theinformation receiving step to the electronic-materials service receivingside.

[0020] A program of the present invention according to a second aspectis constructed as follows.

[0021] The program operates on an information processing terminal,capable of being connected to a network, to execute the steps of areceiving step for receiving information of first electronic materialstransmitted from an electronic materials providing side; anadvertisement information preparing step for preparing information ofsecond electronic materials, with which advertisement information isassociated, based on the information of the first electronic materialsreceived in the information receiving step; and a transmitting step fortransmitting, to the electronic materials providing side, theinformation of the second electronic materials, with which theadvertisement information prepared in the advertisement informationpreparing step is associated.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention willapparent from the following description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one example of configuration ofan electronic album creating system to which an information processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention isapplied.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of an album server.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of a creating user computer.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an initial settingprocess for creating an electronic album, including setting of categoryinformation and user information.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of an initial settingprocess for creating an electronic album, including setting of categoryinformation and user information.

[0029]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of an electronic albumcreating process by a creating user.

[0030]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of an electronic albumcreating process by a creating user.

[0031]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of a process forinserting an advertisement in the electronic album.

[0032]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of a process forinserting an advertisement in the electronic album.

[0033]FIG. 10 is a representation showing a template.

[0034]FIG. 11 is a representation showing a screen for promptingselection of the category information.

[0035]FIG. 12 is a representation showing a screen for prompting entryof the user information.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] One embodiment of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the drawings.

[0037]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one example of configuration ofan electronic album creating system to which an information processingapparatus according to this is applied.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, numeral 110 denotes an album server forcreating an electronic album. The album server 110 provides a templatefor creating an electronic album to (album) creating user computers130-1, 130-2, 130-3, 131-1, 131-2, etc., and inputs, in the template,image data and comment data transmitted from the creating user computers130-1 to 130-3, 131-1, 131-2, etc.

[0039] Also, the album server 110 provides album data of the electronicalbum, in which the image data and the comment data have been input, togeneral user computers 150, 151, etc. Further, the album server 110processes the album data of the electronic album to prepare processedalbum data for the purpose of soliciting advertisements to be insertedin the electronic album. In addition, the album server 110 provides theprocessed album data to advertisement providing computers 140, 141, etc.

[0040] The creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, 131-1, 131-2, etc.receive, e.g., a template for creating an electronic album, which isprovided from the album server 110, and transmit image data and commentdata, which are to be input in the template, to the album server 110.

[0041] Also, the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 constitute afirst creating group 130, and the creating user computers 131-1, 131-2,etc. constitute a second creating group 131. The “creating group” usedherein means a user group comprising a plurality of creating usercomputers that take part in creating one electronic album.

[0042] The creating group comprises one creating user computer operatedby a host user, and one or more creating user computers operated byguest users. The host user selects category information provided fromthe album server 110, and inputs user information regarding the users ofthe relevant creating group. Also, the guest users are users registeredby the host user.

[0043] The advertisement providing computers 140, 141, etc. receive theprocessed album data prepared by processing the album data of theelectronic album, which is provided from the album server 110, forinserting an advertisement in the electronic album. The general usercomputers 150, 151, etc. receive the album data of the electronic album,in which the image data and the comment data have been input, providedfrom the album server 110.

[0044] The album server 110, the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3,131-1, 131-2, etc., the advertisement providing computers 140, 141,etc., and the general user computers 150, 151, etc. are interconnectedfor mutual communications. Thus, those components are interconnectedthrough network interfaces (described later), provided in themselves, tobe able to communicate with one another via a network 120 such as theInternet or WAN (Wide Area Network).

[0045]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of the album server 110 in this embodiment.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 2, numeral 201 denotes a CPU for controllingvarious components connected to the CPU via a bus 206 so as to transmit,receive and merge data. Via the bus 206, address signals, controlsignals and various data are transferred between the various components(pieces of equipment) interconnected by the bus 206.

[0047] Numeral 202 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory). Control procedures(computer programs) for the CPU 201 are stored in the ROM 202beforehand. Processing, such as transfer and merging of data, can beperformed by the CPU 201 executing the control procedures. Numeral 203denotes a RAM serving as a work memory for transmitting, receiving andmerging data, and also as a temporary memory for control of the variouscomponents.

[0048] In this embodiment, the CPU 201, the ROM 202, the RAM 203, etc.realize the functions of a user information receiving unit, a templateinformation providing unit, a creation information receiving unit, analbum editing unit, a communication mediating unit, etc. used in thepresent invention.

[0049] Numeral 204 denotes an external storage for storing data, such asa hard disk. The external storage 204 stores a template database (DB)207, a category database (DB) 208, a user information database (DB) 209,and an electronic album database (DB) 210.

[0050] The template DB 207 stores templates for creating electronicalbums. The category DB 208 stores album classifying information forclassifying electronic albums in accordance with predetermined classes.The album classifying information includes category information preparedby the album server 110 and theme information input from the host userthrough the creating user computer and assigned to the electronic album.

[0051] The user information DB 209 registers and stores user informationregarding the host user and the guest users, which is input from thehost user through the creating user computer. In other words, the userinformation DB 209 registers and stores user information regarding theusers of the creating groups. The electronic album DB 210 stores albumdata of electronic albums, processed album data, and advertisement albumdata. The advertisement album data means a combination of album data ofan electronic album and advertisement data to be inserted in theelectronic album.

[0052] Numeral 205 denotes a network interface for connection betweenthe album server 110 and the network 120.

[0053]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one example of hardwareconfiguration of the creating user computer 130-1 in this embodiment.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 3, numeral 301 denotes a CPU. The CPU 301controls various components connected to it via a bus 308 for, e.g.,inputting and outputting data and transmitting and receiving data. Viathe bus 308, address signals, control signals and various data aretransferred between the various components (pieces of equipment)interconnected by the bus 308.

[0055] Numeral 302 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory). Control procedures(computer programs) for the CPU 301 are stored in the ROM 302beforehand. Processing, such as to input and output data and transmitand receive data, can be performed by the CPU 301 executing the controlprocedures. Numeral 303 denotes a RAM. The RAM 303 serves as a workmemory for inputting, outputting, transmitting and receiving data, andalso as a temporary memory for control of the various components. Inthis embodiment, the CPU 301, the ROM 302, the RAM 303 and so on realizethe functions of a user information transmitting unit, a templateinformation acquiring unit, a created information transmitting unit,etc. used in the present invention.

[0056] Numeral 304 denotes an external storage for storing data, such asa hard disk. Numeral 305 denotes a network interface for connectionbetween the creating user computer 130-1 and the network 120. Numeral306 denotes an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse and a digitalcamera. The input device 306 is employed to select the categoryinformation provided from the album server 110, or to input image dataand comment data. Numeral 307 denotes an output device, such as adisplay, which is employed to display various input data on a screen.

[0057] The other creating user computers 130-2, 130-3, 131-1, 131-2,etc., the advertisement providing computers 140, 141, etc., and thegeneral user computers 150, 151, etc. are each of the same hardwareconfiguration of the creating user computer 130-1. Hence, a detaileddescription of those computers is omitted here.

[0058] The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4to 12.

[0059] The following description is made in connection with the casewhere the users of the first creating group 130, which comprises thecreating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 shown in FIG. 1, create anelectronic album. Also, it is assumed that the user operating thecreating user computer 130-1 is a host user and the users operating thecreating user computers 130-2, 130-3 are guest users. (Initial SettingProcess)

[0060]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of an initial settingprocess for creating an electronic album, including setting of categoryinformation and user information. FIG. 4 represents the operation on theside of the album server 110.

[0061] First, the album server 110 prepares a template for creating anelectronic album and stores the template in the template DB 207 (stepS401). FIG. 10 shows one example of the template. As shown in FIG. 10,the template is made up of an image entry area 1001 in which data ofimages, such as photos, is to be input, text entry areas 1002, 1004 inwhich data of comments, such as impressions, is to be input, anadvertisement entry area in which advertisement data is to be input,etc. The text entry areas include a title entry area 1004 in which atitle of an electronic album is to be input, and a comment entry area1002 in which comments (compositions) freely written by the user are tobe input. Additionally, the template is prepared in plural number foreach item of category information.

[0062] Then, in step S402, the album server 110 prepares categoryinformation for classifying electronic albums in accordance withpredetermined classes, and stores the category information in thecategory DB 208. The category information includes, e.g., items such as“travel” and “food”. Further, the category information “travel”, forexample, may be divided into sub-category information classified foreach destination of travel, such as “Tahiti”, “Maldives” or “Canada”.

[0063] Then, the album server 110 starts a procedure for making a Website available for general use, on which electronic albums are createdand made open to the public. That procedure is performed after preparingthe template (step S401) and preparing the category information (stepS402). The template and the category information may be added anddeleted, as required, after making the Web site available for generaluse.

[0064] Subsequently, it is assumed that the creating user computer 130-1accesses the Web site and notifies the intent of creating an electronicalbum to the album server 110. In such a case, in step S403, the albumserver 110 prompts selection of the category information. This prompt isperformed by transmitting data for displaying the category informationstored in the category DB 208 on the output device 307 of the creatinguser computer 130-1. Note that, in this specification, data displayed onthe output device on the user side is expressed by “display data”. Uponreceiving the display data, the creating user computer 130-1 displays animage, such as shown in FIG. 11, on the display screen. As seen fromFIG. 11, category items 1101 are displayed.

[0065] Category selection information representing the selected categoryinformation and theme information input by the user are both transmittedto the album server 110. Those data are transmitted from the creatinguser computer 130-1 as a response to a prompt for selecting the categoryinformation and a prompt 1102 for inputting the theme informationregarding the theme of an electronic album to be created. Upon receivingthe category selection information and the theme information in stepS404, the album server 110 goes to step S405.

[0066] In step S405, the album server 110 transmits, to the creatinguser computer 130-1, display data for prompting the user to select oneof the templates stored in the template DB 207. This step is responsiveto the category selection information received in step S404. Also, thealbum server 110 prompts entry of the user information. This prompt isperformed by transmitting, to the creating user computer 130-1, displaydata for displaying a screen image to input the user information (suchas the user names, passwords, and e-mail addresses) regarding users(album creating users) who participate in creating the electronic album.Correspondingly, the creating user computer 130-1 displays an image,such as shown in FIG. 12, on the display screen. In FIG. 12, numeral1201 denotes a list of templates to be selected, and numeral 1202denotes a column in which the mail address is to be entered as the userinformation. Also, numeral 1203 denotes a column in which the mailaddresses of friends, who participate in creating the electronic album,are to be entered.

[0067] The column 1203 may be modified so as to request entry of thegender and ages of the album creating users as the user information.This is because the user information including the gender and agesrepresents personality of the album creating users. Such information maybe available, for example, as marketing materials. In other words, suchinformation may be useful in estimating what kinds of users havingdifferent personalities desire what categories of albums or travels.

[0068] Template selection information representing the selected templateand the user information input by the user are both transmitted from thecreating user computer 130-1 to the album server 110. Those data aretransmitted as a response to prompts for selecting the template andinputting the user information. In step S406, the album server 110receives the template selection information and the user information.

[0069] Then, in step S407, the album server 110 stores the categoryselection information and the theme information, received in step S404,in the category DB 208. Also, the album server 110 stores the templateselection information and the user information, received in step S406,in the user information DB 209. At that time, the category selectioninformation and the theme information, stored in the category DB 208,and the template selection information and the user information, storedin the user information DB 209, are stored as information regarding thefirst creating group 130 in a manner correlated to each other.

[0070] In step S408, the album server 110 transmits approval-of-useinformation permitting the use of the Web site to create an electronicalbum by an e-mail, for example, to the creating users of the electronicalbum, whose addresses are stored in the user information DB 209 inabove step S407. The approval-of-use information includes the user name,password, URL (Uniform Resource Locator), etc.

[0071] More specifically, the approval-of-use information containsinformation needed for issuing (or obtaining) an approval of an accessto the album server 110. The approval of an access to the album server110 is given for each of a plurality of album creating user terminals.For example, when the approval-of-use information contains the username, password and URL as mentioned above, different user names aredefined for the individual album creating user terminals. Alternatively,different passwords may be defined for the individual album creatinguser terminals. The approval of an access is made individually for eachof the plurality of album creating user terminals. Therefore, the albumserver 110 can discriminate the information (including theapproval-of-use information) transmitted to it. Stated otherwise, theapproval-of-use information enables the album server 110 to determinewhich one of the album creating user terminals has transmitted thatapproval-of-use information.

[0072] In this embodiment, the password and the URL are of the samedata. Thus, the URL has the function of the password. Also, the URLcontains an “address” on the Internet for accessing the selectedtemplate information. For example, when the category information is“travel” and the sub-category information is “Maldives”, the URLcontains an “address” for the corresponding template. Further, the URLcontains an “address” for the electronic album under creation.

[0073] In addition, the URL contains a domain. The domain is expressedby, e.g., an Internet Protocol address (IP address) or alphabetscorresponding to the IP address.

[0074]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of an initial settingprocess for creating an electronic album, including setting of categoryinformation and user information. FIG. 5 represents the operation on theside of the creating user computer 130-1.

[0075] First, the creating user computer 130-1 accesses the Web siteprovided by the album server 110 for creating an electronic album.Further, the creating user computer 130-1 notifies the intent ofcreating an electronic album to the album server 110 through the Website (step S501).

[0076] In response to the notification, the album server 110 transmitsthe display data for selection of the category information and thedisplay data for entry of the theme information to the creating usercomputer 130-1. Then, in step S402, the creating user computer 130-1receives the display data for selection of the category information andthe display data for entry of the theme information. As a result, theimage shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display screen.

[0077] More specifically, in step S403, the creating user computer 130-1displays, on the output device 307, a screen image based on the displaydata for selection of the category information and the display data forentry of the theme information. The screen image based on the displaydata for selection of the category information includes categoryselection buttons provided for each item of the category information forselecting the category information.

[0078] Using the input device 306 of the creating user computer 130-1,the host user clicks one of the category selection buttons and selectsthe category information. Also, the host user enters the themeinformation using the input device 306 of the creating user computer130-1. Then, the creating user computer 130-1 transmits both thecategory selection information representing the selected categoryinformation and the entered theme information to the album server 110.

[0079] As a response to the transmitted category selection information,the creating user computer 130-1 receives in step S404, from the albumserver 110, the display data for selecting the template and the data forprompting entry of the user information regarding the creating users,i.e., the users of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3.

[0080] Based on the data received in step S404, the creating usercomputer 130-1 displays in step S509 a template selection screen and anentry screen for inputting the user information regarding the albumcreating users on the output device, as shown in FIG. 12. The templateselection screen may be displayed as an entry screen including aplurality of templates displayed at the same time on one display screen.Alternatively, one template may be displayed on one display screen byproviding a switching button or the like on a screen image and replacingthe template with a next one each time the switching button isdepressed.

[0081] The host user selects the template and enters the userinformation through the input device 306. Then, the creating usercomputer 130-1 transmits the template selection information representingthe selected template and the entered user information to the albumserver 110. The user information contains the user names, passwords,e-mail addresses, etc. The user information may also contain the genderand ages of the creating users, as described above.

[0082] As a response to the template selection information and the userinformation both transmitted in step S505, the creating user computer130-1 receives, in step S406, approval-of-use information transmittedfrom the album server 110. The user information received by the albumserver 110 also contains the mail addresses of users who participate increating the electronic album together with the host user. Based on theuser information, therefore, the approval-of-use information istransmitted from the album server 110 to each of the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3 and is received by them.

[0083] The approval-of-use information contains, as described above,information enabling the album server 110 to determine which one of thealbum creating user terminals has transmitted the approval-of-useinformation. Hence, in an album creating process described below, thealbum server 110 can determine which one of the album creating userterminals has made an access to it.

[0084] (Album Creating Process)

[0085]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of an electronic albumcreating process by a creating user, looking from the album server side.FIG. 6 represents the operation on the side of the album server 110.

[0086] The album creating users, whose user information has been inputin the initial setting process shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, access the Website for creating the electronic album through the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3, and notify the intent of creating theelectronic album. At that time, the album server 110 transmits, to oneof the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 who has accessed, displaydata for prompting entry of the user name and the URL as password (stepS601).

[0087] In response to the prompt, the one user of the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3 enters the user name and the URL as password byusing the input device 306, followed by transmission.

[0088] In step S602, the album server 110 receives the user name and theURL as password transmitted from the one of the creating user computers130-1 to 130-3. Then, the album server 110 checks and confirms whetherthe received user name and URL match with those ones registered in theuser information DB 209. If the received user name and URL match withthe registered ones, the control flow proceeds to step S603, and if notso, the album creating process is ended.

[0089] When the received user name and URL match with the registeredones and the control flow proceeds to step S603, the album server 110checks whether any user of the first creating group 130, to which theuser having the relevant user name belongs, is now creating theelectronic album. If any user of the first creating group 130 is nowcreating the electronic album, the control flow proceeds to step S610.

[0090] In step S610, the album server 110 determines whether the sameuser has accessed. In this embodiment, different approval-of-useinformation is assigned to each album creating user. Then, the albumserver 110 does not transmit the template for creating the electronicalbum when access has already been made based on the sameapproval-of-use information.

[0091] More specifically, the URL serving also as a password containsthe Internet address of the template selection information regarding thestored album. On the other hand, the user name is user informationcorrelated to the URL (see step S407 in FIG. 4). Also, the user name isdifferent for each user. Accordingly, when the album server 110 hasalready approved access based on the same name, it does not transmit thetemplate for creating the electronic album to the user having the samename. In other words, when access to the album server is alreadypermitted based on certain approval-of-use information, another accessto the album server based on the same approval-of-use information isprohibited.

[0092] The approval-of-use information for permitting access to thealbum server contains a user name and a password. In this embodiment, adifferent user name is defined for each of album creating users.Alternatively, different passwords may be defined for individual users.This case will make the user free from troublesome operation ofinputting the user name.

[0093] If it is determined in step S610 that the access is not from thesame user, the control flow proceeds to step S604. In step S604, thealbum server 110 transmits the fact that another album creating user isunder the operation, to the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to130-3 that has accessed in step S601. Then, the album server 110 goes tostep S605.

[0094] On that occasion, the album server 110 transmits, to the creatinguser computers 130-1 to 130-3, display data for a communication screenenabling the relevant users of the creating user computers 130-1 to130-3 to make a chat or the like between or among them, and thereaftertransmits communication information, which is input from any of thecreating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, to all of the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3.

[0095] If any other album creating user of the first creating group 130is not under the operation of creating the electronic album, the controlflow proceeds to step S605.

[0096] In step S605, the album server 110 transmits the display data forthe template for creating an electronic album, such as shown in FIG. 10,to the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 that hasaccessed in step S601. The template display data causes the whole of atemplate, including an image entry area and a text entry area, to bedisplayed on the output device 307 of the one of the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3 so that the relevant user may create theelectronic album. As another example, in response to a request from therelevant user of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, the albumserver 110 may transmit the template display data for displaying only animage entry area or a text entry area.

[0097] When the operation of creating an electronic album is performedfor the first time by the first creating group 130, the display data forthe template selected in the initial setting process, shown in FIGS. 4and 5, is transmitted as the template display data. That is, the displaydata for the template, in which neither images nor comments are entered,is transmitted.

[0098] When the operation of creating an electronic album has beenperformed before by the first creating group 130 and the user is goingto edit the electronic album, the display data for the template, forwhich the operation of creating the electronic album has been performedbefore by the first creating group 130, is transmitted as the templatedisplay data. That is, the display data for the template, in which atleast part of image data and comment data has already been entered, istransmitted.

[0099] Subsequently, in step S606, the album server 110 receives thedata transmitted from the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to130-3. Then, the album server 110 goes to step S607. In step S607, thealbum server 110 determines whether the data received in step S606 isthe data (e.g., image data and comment data) for creating the electronicalbum or an end-of-operation notice. If the received data is the data(e.g., image data and comment data) for creating the electronic album,the control flow proceeds to step S608, and if it is an end-of-operationnotice, the album creating process is ended after storing the album dataof the electronic album in the electronic album DB 210.

[0100] When the received data is determined in step S607 as being thedata for creating the electronic album and the control flow proceeds tostep S608, the album server 110 processes the received creation data inmatch with the entry areas of the template and inputs it in thetemplate. For example, when the received creation data is image data,the image data is input in the template after being scaled up or down inaccordance with the size of the image entry area designated by the user.

[0101] In step S609, the album server 110 transmits, to the user nowcreating the electronic album, display data for the template in whichthe creation data has been input in step S608. The control flow thenreturns to step S606. Thereafter, the album server 110 repeats theabove-described steps S606 to S609.

[0102]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of an electronic albumcreating process by a creating user. FIG. 7 represents the operation onthe side of one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3.

[0103] Each of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 accesses theWeb site provided by the album server 110 for creating an electronicalbum, and notifies the intent of creating an electronic album to thealbum server 110 (step S701).

[0104] In response to the notification, the display data for promptingentry of the user name and the password is transmitted from the albumserver 110 to one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 that hasaccessed the Web site. In step S702, the one of the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3 receives the display data for prompting entryof the user name and the password.

[0105] In step S703, the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to130-3 displays, on the output device 307, a screen image based on thedisplay data for prompting entry of the user name and the password. Whenthe relevant user inputs the user name and the password using the inputdevice 306, the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3transmits the input user name and password to the album server 110.

[0106] The album server 110 then determines whether the user name andthe password transmitted from the one of the creating user computers130-1 to 130-3 match with those ones registered in the user informationDB 209. If matched, the template information is provided, and if notmatched, the album creating process ends.

[0107] As a response in the case where the transmitted user name andpassword match, the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3receives in step S704 the display data for the template for creating anelectronic album, which is provided from the album server 110, anddisplays a screen image based on the received template display data onthe output device 307. In the screen image, the whole of a template isdisplayed such that the user easily recognizes the image entry area, thecomment entry area, etc. Also, when any image data or comment data hasalready been input, the template is displayed with the image data orcomment data input therein.

[0108] On that occasion, when another user of the first creating group130 is under the operation of creating the electronic album, the albumserver 110 transmits display data for a communication screen enablingthe users now creating the electronic album to make a chat or the likebetween or among them. Thereafter, the relevant users of the creatinguser computers 130-1 to 130-3 can progress the operation of creating theelectronic album while communicating information with each other. Forexample, when the image data has already been input, they can transmitopinions about that image data between or among them. As a result of thechat, an image showing a view of the sea may be changed to an imageshowing a view of the mountain.

[0109] On that occasion, the chat communications are stored in theexternal storage 204. Thus, communication data among a plurality ofusers is stored in the external storage 204 in correlation to thetemplate. Also, as described above, when some user is going toparticipate in the chat, the user must access the album server based onthe approval-of-use information. The approval-of-use information isdifferent for each of the album creating users. When storing the chatcommunications in the external storage 204, therefore, it is possible toconfirm what chat has been made among which members of the albumcreating users.

[0110] Further, by taking the chat communications out of the externalstorage 204, it is possible to confirm the album creating process later.

[0111] In step S705, the relevant user of the one of the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3, to which the template display data has beenprovided, enters creation data (such as image data and comment data) tobe input in the template by using the input device 306 and transmits thecreation data to the album server 110.

[0112] The transmitted creation data (such as image data and commentdata) is input in the template by the album server 110 after beingscaled up or down in accordance with the size of the template. Then,display data for the template, in which the transmitted creation data(such as image data and comment data) has been input, is transmittedfrom the album server 110.

[0113] In step S706, similar to above step S704, the one of the creatinguser computers 130-1 to 130-3 receives the updated template informationand displays a screen image of the received template information on theoutput device 307. Then, the control flow proceeds to step S707. In stepS707, the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 determineswhether the intent of ending the operation is input from the userthrough the input device 306.

[0114] If the intent of ending the operation is not input, the one ofthe creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 returns to step S705 and thenrepeats the above-described steps S705 to S707 of the album creatingprocess. On the other hand, if the intent of ending the operation isinput, the one of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 goes tostep S708 and transmits an end-of-operation notice to the album server110, thereby ending the album creating process.

[0115] (Advertisement Inserting Process)

[0116]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of a process forinserting an advertisement in the electronic album. FIG. 8 representsthe operation on the side of the album server 110.

[0117] First, the album server 110 prepares processed album data byprocessing the album data of the electronic album which has been createdand stored in the electronic album DB 210 (step S801). The processing ofthe album data is made by converting the album data into the more easilyavailable form. Namely, the album data is converted into such data asallowing an advertisement providing company A to make a judgment whetherthe electronic album is suitable for insertion of an advertisement.Herein, when there are plural sets of album data belonging to onecategory, those data are collected for each category by the conversion.For example, assuming that the category information is “travel” and thesub-category information is “Canada”, the album data including “Canada”in the theme information are correlated to each other. Such processingenables the company A to easily select the album in which anadvertisement is to be inserted. Incidentally, the processed album datais prepared from the album data of the electronic album belonging to thecategory information that is going to be made open to the public on theWeb site.

[0118] Then, in step S802, the album server 110 transmits the processedalbum data to the advertisement providing computers 140, 141, etc.operated by users in companies who demand insertion of advertisements.It is here assumed, for example, that the processed album data istransmitted to the advertisement providing computer 140 of the companyA.

[0119] When the album server 110 receives in step S803 data from theadvertisement providing computer 140 as a response to the transmissionof the processed album data, it goes to step S804. In step S804, thealbum server 110 determines whether the data received in step S803 isadvertisement album data, which is prepared by inputting anadvertisement, to be inserted in the electronic album, in the processedalbum data transmitted to the advertisement providing computer 140, or anotice of indicating no demand for insertion of advertisements.

[0120] If it is determined that the received data is the advertisementalbum data, the control flow proceeds to step S805. If it is determinedthat the received data is the notice of indicating no demand forinsertion of advertisements, the control flow proceeds to step S806.

[0121] In step S805, the album server 110 stores the receivedadvertisement album data in the electronic album DB 210 and then goes tostep S806.

[0122] In step S806, the album server 110 determines whethersolicitation for advertisements is to be continued. That determinationis made based on, for example, whether there is the processed album datain which an advertisement is not yet inserted, and whether there isanother user, e.g., a company, who demands insertion of anadvertisement.

[0123] If it is determined that the solicitation for advertisements isto be continued, the album server 110 returns to step S802 and repeatsthe above-described steps S802 to S806 for the advertisement providingcomputer 141 of the company B, for example. Note that, when continuingthe solicitation for advertisements, the processed album data istransmitted to the advertisement providing computer 141 after removing,from it, the processed album data that has been used to prepare theadvertisement album data stored in above step S805.

[0124] If it is determined that the solicitation for advertisements isnot to be continued, the album server 110 goes to step S807 and makesthe advertisement album data, which has been stored in the electronicalbum DB 210, available for general use (S808). This step of making theadvertisement album data available for general use is performeddepending on the category information of the electronic album.

[0125] Thereafter, general users operating the general user computers150, 151, etc. are able to access the Web site, provided by the albumserver 110, through the general user computers 150, 151, etc., and tobrowse the images of the advertisement album data. In this connection,the album server 110 may arrange a contest, for example, and offerpremiums to one or more creating users of the electronic albums, whichgained prizes, from the advertising companies and so on. Statedotherwise, a step of selecting certain electronic album data for prizesmay be added to increase an incentive to the creation of electronicalbums. After making the advertisement album data open to the public,the advertisement inserting process ends.

[0126]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of a process forinserting an advertisement in the electronic album. FIG. 9 representsthe operation on the side of the advertisement providing computers 140,141, etc. Also, in the following description of FIG. 9, it is assumedthat the advertisement providing computer 140 of the company A executesthe operation of the advertisement inserting process ends.

[0127] First, the advertisement providing computer 140 receives theprocessed album data transmitted from the album server 110 (step S901).

[0128] Then, in step S902, the advertisement providing computer 140displays, on the output device 307, images of the processed album datareceived in above step S901. The company A, i.e., the user of theadvertisement providing computer 140, reviews the image displayed on theoutput device 307, and determines whether to demand insertion of anadvertisement in any of the images of the processed album data. Thecompany A then enters a determination result using the input device 306.

[0129] If an advertisement is to be inserted, the control flow proceedsto step S903. On the other hand, if an advertisement is not to beinserted, the control flow proceeds to step S907. In the latter case,the company A, i.e., the user of the advertisement providing computer140, notifies the intent of not demanding insertion of an advertisementto the album server 110, thereby ending the advertisement insertingprocess.

[0130] In step S903, the advertisement providing computer 140 searchesand selects the processed album data, for which an advertisement is tobe inserted, in accordance with an instruction from the user, i.e., thecompany A. Then, in step S904, the advertisement providing computer 140prepares advertisement data to be attached to the processed album dataselected in above S903. The advertisement data to be attached to theprocessed album data may be prepared in advance.

[0131] Then, in step S905, the advertisement providing computer 140inputs the advertisement data, which has been prepared in above stepS904, in the processed album data that has been selected in above stepS903. As a result, the advertisement providing computer 140 preparesadvertisement album data in a combination of the processed album dataand the advertisement data.

[0132] In step S906, the advertisement providing computer 140 transmitsthe prepared advertisement album data to the album server 110, therebyending the advertisement inserting process.

[0133] With this embodiment, as described above in detail, the albumserver 110 receives the user information regarding the album creatingusers transmitted from the creating user computer 130-1, and based onthe received user information, it provides a template for creating anelectronic album to the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3. Then,the album server 110 receives, via the network 120, creation data (suchas image data and comment data) to be input in the template that hasbeen transmitted from the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, andinputs the received creation data in the template after processing it inaccordance with respective entry areas of the template.

[0134] Thus, the album creating users operating the creating usercomputers 130-1 to 130-3 can transmit the creation data (such as imagedata and comment data), which is to be input in the template, throughthe creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 and the network 120.Accordingly, the album creating users can create a common electronicalbum in cooperation without meeting at a certain place for editing ofthe album.

[0135] Also, the album server 110 stores category information forclassifying electronic albums in the category DB 208, provides thecategory information to the creating user computer 130-1, and receivescategory selection information transmitted from the creating usercomputer 130-1 as a response to presentation of the categoryinformation. Then, in accordance with the received category selectioninformation, the album server 110 provides the template to the creatinguser computers 130-1 to 130-3. Therefore, the template suitable for thecategory information selected by the album creating user can be providedto the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3.

[0136] Further, the album server 110 receives communication informationtransmitted from any of the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, andthen transmits the received communication information to all of thecreating user computers 130-1 to 130-3. This enables the album creatingusers operating the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3 to performthe operation of creating an electronic album while communicating withone another through a chat or the like.

[0137] Since the communication information is stored in the album server110, the album storing users can review the stored communicationinformation later. In this respect, the communication information isstored in correlation to approval-of-use information specific to theindividual users. It is therefore possible to know, for example, theprocess in which an image has been replaced, i.e., who has uttered theopinion to replace an image among the album creating users. That featureis effective in the case where there occurs a discrepancy betweenopinions of the users after the album has been completed or when it isclosely completed, because of enabling the users to confirm theproceeding of the communications later.

[0138] Moreover, upon receiving the creation data (such as image dataand comment data), which is to be input in the template, from thecreating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, the album server 110 provides,to the creating user computers 130-1 to 130-3, the template in which thereceived creation data has been input. Therefore, even when the creationdata is transmitted from any one of the creating user computers 130-1 to130-3, the updated latest template can be provided to all of thecreating user computers 130-1 to 130-3.

[0139] In this embodiment, a plurality of templates are prepared foreach item of the category information and stored in the album server110. Instead of preparing a plurality of templates for each item of thecategory information, however, a plurality of prepared templates may beshared by plural items of the category information.

[0140] Alternatively, one template may be prepared for each item of thecategory information. In this case, when the host user selects thecategory information through the creating user computer, the templatefor creating an electronic album is automatically decided.

[0141] While, in the advertisement inserting process of this embodimentshown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the processed album data prepared by processingthe album data of the electronic album is transmitted to one of theadvertisement providing computers at a time for solicitation ofadvertisements, the processed album data may be simultaneouslytransmitted to all of the advertisement providing computers. In such acase, if a plurality of advertisement providing computers demandinsertion of advertisements for the same processed album data, the albumserver 110 may decide one user, who can insert an advertisement for thatprocessed album data, in accordance with a predetermined rule such asdeciding the advertising user in the order of higher advertisementcharges proposed by bidding users.

[0142] (Other Embodiments of Present Invention)

[0143] The scope of the present invention involves an embodiment that isimplemented by supplying, to a computer in a system or apparatusconnected to various devices, program codes of software for realizingthe functions of the above-described embodiment, and by causing thevarious devices in accordance with the program codes stored in thecomputer (CPU and/or MPU) in the system or apparatus so that the variousdevices operate to achieve the functions of the above-describedembodiment. In such a case, the program codes serve in themselves torealize the functions of the above-described embodiment. Hence, theprogram codes per se and means for supplying the program codes to thecomputer, e.g., a storage medium storing the program code, constitutethe present invention. Storage mediums for storing the program codes maybe, e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-opticaldisks, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, nonvolatile memory cards, and ROMs.

[0144] Also, it is needless to say that the functions of theabove-described embodiment are realized by not only a computer executingthe program codes supplied to it, but also an OS (Operating System),another application software or the like which is working on thecomputer and realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment incooperation with program codes. These program codes are also involvedwithin the scope of the present invention.

[0145] Further, as a matter of course, the present invention involvessuch a case in which the supplied program codes are stored in a memoryprovided in a function add-on board mounted in the computer or afunction add-on unit connected to the computer, and a CPU or the likeincorporated in the function add-on board or unit executes part or wholeof the actual processing in accordance with instructions from theprogram codes, thereby realizing the functions of the above-describedembodiment.

[0146] According to the embodiment described above, the album serverreceives the user information regarding a plurality of album creatingusers input from one of them, and based on the received userinformation, it transmits, to the plurality of album creating users,approval-of-use information for accessing the Web site to create anelectronic album. Also, the album server provides information to theplurality of album creating users to which the approval-of-useinformation has been transmitted. Then, the album server receivescreation information that is related to images to be input in thetemplate information and has been entered from the plurality of albumcreating users through user terminals, and then edits the images basedon the template information. As a result, the plurality of albumcreating users can enter the creation information, which is to be inputin the template information, through the user terminals operated by theindividual album creating users, and can create a common electronicalbum in cooperation without meeting at a certain place for editing ofthe album.

[0147] Also, the album server provides, to the album creating user side,category information for classifying electronic albums, and receivescategory selection information input from the album creating user sideas a response to presentation of the category information. Then, inaccordance with the received category selection information, the albumserver provides template information. Therefore, the templateinformation suitable for the selected category information can beprovided to the album creating users.

[0148] Further, the album server receives communication informationinput from any of the album creating users, and then transmits thereceived communication information to all of the album creating users.This enables the album creating users to create an electronic albumwhile communicating with one another.

[0149] The advertisement providing side conventionally inserts anadvertisement by estimating persons who are going to view theadvertisement, but not confirming personalities, etc. of the viewers.Therefore, advertisement charges are often paid in spite of theadvertising effect being unknown. Such a situation can be advantageouslycoped with by the embodiment. The embodiment makes it possible toprovide an efficient and effective advertising method when puttingadvertisements on home pages, while enabling an electronic album to beprovided inexpensively.

[0150] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the presentinvention can be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific embodiments thereof except as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus capable ofbeing connected to a network, the apparatus comprising: a storage unitfor receiving information of first electronic materials input from aterminal on an electronic-materials creating user side, and storing thereceived information of the first electronic materials; an informationtransmitting unit for transmitting the information of the firstelectronic materials stored in said storage unit to a terminal on anadvertisement providing side; an information receiving unit for, aftertransmitting the information of the first electronic materials from saidinformation transmitting unit, receiving information of secondelectronic materials, which is transmitted from the advertisementproviding side and with which advertisement information is associatedbased on the information of the first electronic materials; and anadvertisement materials publicizing unit for, in response to a requestfrom an electronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting theinformation of the second electronic materials received by saidinformation receiving unit to the electronic-materials service receivingside.
 2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1,.wherein creation information input from the electronic-materialscreating user side is image information.
 3. An information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein creation information input fromthe electronic-materials creating user side is image information andcomment information.
 4. An information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein an area, in which an advertisement is to be input, andimage information are displayed on a creating user terminal inaccordance with the information of the first electronic materials.
 5. Aninformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidadvertisement materials publicizing unit displays advertisementmaterials on a terminal on the electronic-materials service receivingside.
 6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the information of the first electronic materials containscategory information for classifying the information of the firstelectronic materials, and said information transmitting unit transmits,in accordance with the category information, the information of thefirst electronic materials for presentation to the advertisementproviding side.
 7. An information processing terminal capable of beingconnected to a network, the terminal comprising: a receiving unit forreceiving information of first electronic materials transmitted from anelectronic materials providing side; an advertisement informationpreparing unit for preparing information of second electronic materials,with which advertisement information is associated, based on theinformation of the first electronic materials received by said receivingunit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting, to the electronicmaterials providing side, the information of the second electronicmaterials, with which the advertisement information prepared by saidadvertisement information preparing unit is associated.
 8. Aninformation processing terminal according to claim 7, further comprisingdisplay means for displaying image information in accordance with theinformation of the first electronic materials transmitted from theelectronic materials providing side.
 9. An information processingterminal according to claim 7, wherein said advertisement informationpreparing unit prepares the advertisement information based on and inassociation with the information of the first electronic materialsreceived by said receiving unit.
 10. An information processing terminalaccording to claim 7, further comprising display means for displayingthe information of the second electronic materials, which is prepared bysaid advertisement information preparing unit and with which theadvertisement information is associated.
 11. An information processingmethod for providing, via a network, electronic materials in which anadvertisement is inserted, the method comprising the steps of: receivinginformation of first electronic materials input from a terminal on anelectronic-materials creating user side; storing the receivedinformation of the first electronic materials; transmitting the storedinformation of the first electronic materials to a terminal on anadvertisement providing side; after transmitting the information of thefirst electronic materials, receiving information of second electronicmaterials, which is transmitted from the advertisement providing sideand with which advertisement information is associated based on theinformation of the first electronic materials; and in response to arequest from an electronic-materials service receiving side,transmitting the received information of the second electronic materialsto the electronic-materials service receiving side.
 12. An informationprocessing method according to claim 11, wherein creation informationinput from the electronic-materials creating user side is imageinformation.
 13. An information processing method according to claim 11,wherein creation information input from the electronic-materialscreating user side is image information and comment information.
 14. Aninformation processing method according to claim 11, further comprisingthe step of displaying an area, in which an advertisement is to beinput, and image information in accordance with the information of thefirst electronic materials.
 15. An information processing methodaccording to claim 11, further comprising the step of displayingadvertisement materials on a terminal on the electronic-materialsservice receiving side.
 16. An information processing method accordingto claim 11, wherein the information of the first electronic materialscontains category information for classifying the information of thefirst electronic materials, and the information of the first electronicmaterials, for presentation to the advertisement providing side, istransmitted in accordance with the category information.
 17. Aninformation processing method for providing, via a network, electronicmaterials in which an advertisement is inserted, the method comprisingthe steps of: receiving information of first electronic materialstransmitted from an electronic materials providing side; preparinginformation of second electronic materials, with which advertisementinformation is associated, based on the information of the firstelectronic materials received in said receiving step; and transmitting,to the electronic materials providing side, the information of thesecond electronic materials, with which the advertisement information isassociated.
 18. An information processing method according to claim 17,further comprising the step of displaying image information inaccordance with the information of the first electronic materialstransmitted from the electronic materials providing side.
 19. Aninformation processing method according to claim 17, further comprisingthe step of preparing advertisement information based on the informationof the first electronic materials in association therewith.
 20. Aninformation processing method according to claim 17, further comprisingthe step of displaying the information of the second electronicmaterials with which the advertisement information is associated.
 21. Aninformation processing system connecting via a network a first terminalon an electronic-materials creating user side and a second terminal onan advertisement providing side for inserting an advertisement inelectronic materials, the system comprising: a storage unit forreceiving information of first electronic materials input from saidfirst terminal on the electronic-materials creating user side, andstoring the received information of the first electronic materials; aninformation transmitting unit for transmitting the information of thefirst electronic materials stored in said storage unit to said secondterminal on the advertisement providing side; an information receivingunit for, after transmitting the information of the first electronicmaterials from said information transmitting unit, receiving informationof second electronic materials, which is transmitted from said secondterminal on the advertisement providing side and with whichadvertisement information is associated based on the information of thefirst electronic materials; and an advertisement materials publicizingunit for, in response to a request from a third terminal on anelectronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting theinformation of the second electronic materials received by saidinformation receiving unit to the electronic-materials service receivingside.
 22. A program operating on an information processing apparatus,capable of being connected to a network, to execute the steps of:receiving information of first electronic materials input from aterminal on an electronic-materials creating user side, and storing thereceived information of the first electronic materials; an informationtransmitting step for transmitting the information of the firstelectronic materials stored in said storing step to a terminal on anadvertisement providing side; an information receiving step for, aftertransmitting the information of the first electronic materials in saidinformation transmitting step, receiving information of secondelectronic materials, which is transmitted from the advertisementproviding side and with which advertisement information is associatedbased on the information of the first electronic materials; and anadvertisement materials publicizing step for, in response to a requestfrom an electronic-materials service receiving side, transmitting theinformation of the second electronic materials received in saidinformation receiving step to the electronic-materials service receivingside.
 23. A program operating on an information processing terminal,capable of being connected to a network, to execute the steps of: areceiving step for receiving information of first electronic materialstransmitted from an electronic materials providing side; anadvertisement information preparing step for preparing information ofsecond electronic materials, with which advertisement information isassociated, based on the information of the first electronic materialsreceived in said information receiving step; and a transmitting step fortransmitting, to the electronic materials providing side, theinformation of the second electronic materials, with which theadvertisement information prepared in said advertisement informationpreparing step is associated.